When you consider the sustainable fashion and the clothing industry, you might feel overwhelmed as you think of landfills filled with clothes and read startling statistics about the environmental damage from the fashion industry. But you tell yourself that you don’t make or sell clothes, so how can you make a difference?

What makes a brand sustainable? This question cannot be answered just by looking at glossy mission statements or publicly stated commitments around sustainability (although those are not unimportant). ©Daisy Daisy / Adobe StockYou have to consider how a brand operates. Brands must be judged by their deeds, not their words.

To understand the importance of fabrics being sustainable, you should understand the environmental impacts of fabrics, from growing the crops to make the fabrics, to manufacturing, and even disposal. ©Roman / Adobe StockUnfortunately, there is no fabric that has no impact on the earth. Anything processed has a footprint, but eco-friendly fabrics have a much smaller one.

Recycling is a commendable action that shows you care about the environment and are working to improve it. Yet there are many ways you can improve your recycling habits, raise recycling rates, help build a strong recycling economy, and secure the future of all the recyclables you so diligently put in your bin.

This mini sustainable fashion guide provides you answers to questions like: What is sustainable fashion? What is fast fashion? What is greenwashing? It also guides you on how sustainable fashion is eco-friendly and ethical, as well as provides some tips on how to get on the path to a sustainable wardrobe, including some ideas on fashion pieces to add to your thrift list.

Planned or built-in obsolescence is when companies deliberately design products to break down quickly, forcing the customer to purchase a replacement product. The purpose of this tactic is simply to generate more revenue for the company. ©Photographee.eu / Adobe StockThe earliest story of built-in obsolescence is the light bulb.